The White House released a television advertisement this week calling itself “unapologetically patriotic,” and it immediately drew fierce criticism from Democrats and media commentators who accused the administration of using taxpayer money to promote President Donald Trump illegally.
A White House spokesman pushed back on those accusations, saying the spots are public service announcements designed to encourage civic pride. “These public service announcements are about reminding Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad,” the spokesman said. “The PSAs are clearly not political. The president is not on the ballot and the ads don’t have a call to action.”
Promoting American values is not propaganda.
Critics Call the Ad Illegal and a Hatch Act Violation
The backlash was swift. The Washington Post reported that the ad began airing on cable with a disclosure that it was “paid for by the U.S. government,” which critics argued conflicts with federal rules prohibiting taxpayer funds from being used for “publicity or propaganda.” The Atlantic described it as a “campaign-style ad” and suggested the White House’s explanation for it was even more puzzling than the ad itself.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., issued one of the sharpest condemnations. “This may be felony criminal theft and conversion of government property for political campaign purposes,” Raskin said. “It is a Hatch Act violation for any government employees who worked on it or used government resources to make it. It is blatantly unethical under numerous federal ethics provisions proscribing the use of government resources for political campaigns.” Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., separately sent a letter to the White House expressing “deep concerns” about how the funds were spent. You can read more about the White House patriotism ad controversy in the original reporting.
What the Ad Says and How Past Administrations Compare
The video highlights accomplishments the administration attributes to Trump’s tenure, including what it calls the “largest tax cuts in history” and “reigniting American manufacturing.” A voice-over of Trump declares, “Together we will defeat communism, socialism, and Marxism in America.” Defenders of the ad noted that it contains no reference to voting or any call to political action, the specific conduct the Hatch Act restricts.
Some pointed out that government-funded messaging is not without precedent across party lines. The Washington Examiner noted that the Biden administration’s Department of Health and Human Services spent $911 million on COVID-19 vaccination messaging, and that the George W. Bush administration’s HHS was previously flagged by the Government Accountability Office over Medicare messaging it deemed covert propaganda. One critic of the current backlash asked online whether the ad contained any explicit instruction to vote for Trump or Republicans, arguing the outrage was overblown.
What Happens Next
With lawmakers like Raskin and Hassan pushing for answers, pressure is building on the White House to justify the legal basis for the ad’s funding. The administration has so far maintained that the spots are educational, not political, and has shown no sign of pulling them. Whether congressional Democrats pursue a formal inquiry or refer the matter to the Office of Special Counsel, which oversees Hatch Act enforcement, remains to be seen.
If Democrats would just love their country as much as they do themselves and their bank accounts, then perhaps this wouldn’t be an issue.
